A senior army officer here told The Zimbabwean that the deserters are being deployed across the country as President Robert Mugabe’s party intensifies its attempts to stay in power after next week’s general election.
“Those released have been in detention at Chikurubi and Llewellyn Barracks for at least six months and they have been given a mission to intimidate, abduct, torture and even kill opposition activists whose contributions could tilt the outcome of the polls against Zanu (PF),” said the officer.
“The first batch was released three weeks ago. Although I cannot say how many they were exactly, I can tell you that more than 70 were released from Bulawayo alone. With the torture they went through under detention, it is believed that they will not try to run away again and they work under strict guard,” he added.
“Abductions have already begun, targeting mainly MDC-T officials and activists and the former deserters are responsible. Zanu (PF) wants to later deny involvement and claim that these soldiers were acting on their own because they were sacked from their jobs for deserting, yet they are still on the army payroll. The operation is being run by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander (Constantine Chiwenga) himself.”
No response to written questions had been obtained from the ZNA at the time of going to press.
Post published in: News